Head coaching swim lanes?

Submitted by TK on February 2nd, 2022 at 10:30 AM

I posted a discussion a few weeks ago about IF Harbaugh left, who would be your preferred choice to replace him and it was negged to Bolivia. I guess for being too early. Well it looks like we are knocking on the door now. So let’s revisit. 

Balas is saying there are only 3 candidates. Matt Ruhle, Bill O’Brien or Mike Hart. He thinks Hart would be the choice above Gattis. I don’t see Gattis sticking around if he is passed over, but you never know. But assuming there are more than 3 and you are Warde Manuel, what is your pecking order for pursuing coaches?

College coaches:

1. Luke Fickell/ 2. Dave Aranda 3. Matt Campbell:  I see zero chance that Fickell would accept the job here, but probably worth putting out a feeler. Not sure on Aranda or Campbell or how high they would be on our list. 

Internal:

4. Josh Gattis: Broyles award winner, would be good for keeping things intact with what should be an exciting offense. 5. Mike Hart: Michigan legend and considered a bright young football mind. But he’s not even a coordinator here. Is he ready?

6.  Bucs run game coordinator Harold Goodwin. Former UM lineman and respected enough to be the Bucs interim coach when Arians had Covid.

7.  Bama OC Bill O’Brien. Doesn’t excite me but maybe I’m wrong. 

8. Carolina HC Matt Rhule. Is said to have some interest. 

These are not ranked for me in order, would like to hear opinions on what order of preference everyone has. 

Blue_Bull_Run

February 2nd, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^

Love me some Mike Hart, but it's way too early for him unfortunately. 

Bill O'Brien is a good coach IMO but he'd probably bounce pretty soon. He seems to mess up everywhere. Also, I know there was more to the story but trading Hopkins for Johnson was an epic fail. 

No idea what to think of Rhule. 

First time I heard about Goodwin but I'm intrigued. 

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HTV

February 2nd, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^

I like the Jay Harbaugh thought, although I know that puts me in a small minority.

He could probably keep the staff together, and he's been around coaching his entire life obviously with Jim, John and Jack.  He's a great recruiter and done a plus job with each position he's coached.

Maybe more likely he follows Dad to the NFL, if that's what happens, but I don't think it's that awful.

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ak47

February 2nd, 2022 at 12:04 PM ^

It wouldn't be too early for Hart if there was anything on the resume to suggest he brought anything to the table other than being a liked Michigan Man. Indiana wasn't winning on the strength of their offense, they weren't at the forefront or doing anything innovative, he hasn't shown he's a good recruiter. What exactly has Hart shown that signifies he is going to be a good coach?

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ex dx dy

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^

Real question: What additional responsibility does an associate/assistant head coach title actually confer? I have no idea if it's administrative, game planning, game day, recruiting, or just an "assistant to the regional manager"-style title given to publicly say "good job" and justify a pay bump. Knowing what those responsibilities would help (me, at least) form a better opinion of Hart's candidacy.

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Carpetbagger

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^

I've always assumed it was an HR ploy to give the additional title so they can move you to a new pay grade. That's what it is in most businesses.

However, I really don't know. Perhaps Hart was an integral part of how organized the team looked this year in his role and that's why he's being considered.

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St Joe Blues

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^

I was curious about that as well. Here's what my internet research turned up:

The head coach is ultimately in charge of the entire operation, and it's his vision that everyone follows. However, he won't have the time to carry out everything. So he collaborates with an associate head on the direction of the team then hands out "head coaching" responsibilities to the associate to carry them out. How that is delegated is up to each individual head coach. The associate HC is many times considered the emergency successor to the head coach if he's unable to coach (eg: covid, Jerry Kill-type medical situation, etc). The associate HC has more responsibilities than an assistant HC.

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MaizeBlueA2

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^

I'm all in on Mike Hart, I'm posting it again...

HC: Mike Hart
Co-OC: Josh Gattis
Co-OC: Sherrone Moore (match his salary with Gattis, right now its not close)
Co-DC: Roy Manning (send him a bag of cash and a plane ticket immediately!!)
Co-DC: Steve Clinkscale (in his contract already, it's happening)

QB: Nick Sheridan (Weiss follows Harbaugh)
RB: Kennedy Polamalu (if Harbaugh is stealing some of our guys...we better take one of his!)
WR: Josh Gattis
TE: Tim Brewster (bad HC, but one of the best in the business and currently unemployed with Mullen fired at UF)
OL: Sherrone Moore

DL: Mike Elston
EDGE: Ryan Osborn (he's a Harbaugh guy, but give him a full-time coaching spot!)
LB: Roy Manning
CB: Steve Clinkscale
S: Ron Bellamy

ST: Kennedy Polamalu / Tim Brewster

Get it down on Thursday, call a team meeting, publicize it like ND did with Marcus Freeman, and let's roll!

Oh, and all coaches should commit to the players through at least the end of the '23 season unless they get a HC offer or have a health or family emergency forcing them to step away.

We need stability.

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jclay 2 electr…

February 2nd, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^

I don’t see Gattis sticking around if he is passed over, but you never know. 

I don't really believe it would be Hart over Gattis but if so, it's February. What job is Gattis going to take that isn't a step down? He would have to hang around another year, I feel, just by default. 

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jclay 2 electr…

February 2nd, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^

Oh, I agree he would not remain for years and years but I don't think that would be the case if Harbaugh stayed either. He was interviewing for P5 HC jobs this offseason and just didn't get one. In a Hart regime, both UM and Gattis are aligned around Gattis coming back with a loaded offense, having another great season, and Gattis going and getting his own HC gig at the end of 2022.

Sitting out the year or half-assing it in 2022 isn't in Gattis' best interest either. Feelings might be hurt, but a path to a HC gig in 9 months probably keeps everyone on the same page.

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blue in dc

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^

I think if he were to step back, he would actually see that even under those conditions, another good year at Michigan would really raise his stock.   I think there are legitimate reasons to ask how much of last year’s offense was on Gattis vs Harbaugh vs Weiss.   Further, next year’s offense could be very good.

 

 

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ex dx dy

February 2nd, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^

Let me do some spitballing here: Gattis struggled a bit at first forming a cohesive offense. This was really his first year where it seemed like there were really good offensive game plans. You could always see the ideas, but they weren't getting combined into something that could actually work consistently until this year. It's possible that insiders who have witnessed Gattis's growth believe that he would have a similar learning curve at the HC position, even if he does grow into being a very good head coach eventually. That might be a deal-breaker, given the current state of the roster and staff: they're not rebuilding, they're reloading.

Of course, it's equally, if not more, likely that Gattis would be a stellar head coach from day 1, but the program wants a Michigan Man and Gattis isn't that. In which case, yikes.

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canzior

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:59 AM ^

That's assuming Hart keeps Gattis. 

I wonder what Gattis has known in all of this.  Was he told he would be HC if/when JH left?  Or was he expecting to be OC until an HC job became available elsewhere?  It's possible that Gattis came to M, looking to learn about how to be an HC from Harbaugh & never had any expectation or intention of being the HC at Michigan?

There are so many unknowns with Mike Hart.  What would HIS offense even look like?  I'm terrified it would look like Lloyd Carr/Mike Debords....and not the 2008 Cap 1 Bowl offense either.  I'd rather see what Gattis Unleashed™ looks like.

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4th phase

February 2nd, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^

From linking together random comments, I think we have answers to some of those questions. Hart and Gattis have become good friends and Gattis is cool working for Hart for 1 more year. Gattis doesnt see Michigan HC as his final stop, that combined with the fact Hart seems more "head coachy", think someone like Zac Taylor (never a coordinator). Hart is more likely to stick around for a long time. The offense would be Gattis's. Hart would just be a CEO type. 

 

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ShadowStorm33

February 2nd, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^

I've seen it referenced a number of times recently that it's an open secret that Gattis will bolt for Bama the first opportunity he gets. If that's the case, making him the HC is a no-win situation. Either he fails (a significant possibility, as he has little experience, and his performance here as OC has been uneven at best, Broyles Award or not), or he does well in which case he leaves to take over at Bama when Saban retires. 

I'm sorry, but pretty much the only head coach I'd be ok hiring knowing that it's very possible he'd leave for another college job would be Saban. It's fine that he's a mercenary and he'd eventually bolt if he gets us a few national championships along the way. But no way I'm doing that for someone as unproven as Gattis. It's all risk and no reward...

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Mich1993

February 2nd, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^

I'm disappointed not to see any mention of John Harbaugh.  His name came up as potentially interested last time.  He's been at Baltimore for ever, loves Michigan, and may be interested in coming to Michigan, plus at least for now we've still got 2 of his former coaches.

Long shot but worth a phone call from Warde.

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stephenrjking

February 2nd, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^

His name came up as pure speculation, not as a serious candidate, and he has a terrific NFL job with a dynamic quarterback and a good staff. Other than spending time here as a kid and having the Harbaugh name, there is no reason for his name to be in the conversation. Might as well mention Sean McVay, Andy Reid, and Bill Belichick.

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